Thanks for signing up! You might also like these other newsletters:

Most people with chronic fatigue syndrome say the disease has an effect on their sex life — and that’s only natural. When basic activities of daily living seem insurmountable and you can barely accomplish the simplest tasks, sexual activity can seem out of the question.

"To the extent someone is fatigued, they don't want to have sex," says Patricia A. Fennell, MSW, researcher and clinician specializing in chronic illnesses and CEO of Albany Health Management Associates, Inc. in Latham, N.Y. "They are tired. It affects libido. Anybody who's fatigued, whether through CFS or exertion, is by definition less interested in sex."

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Your Libido

Although research is limited, there is some evidence that chronic fatigue syndrome has an effect on a libido and sexual health. A review of female Gulf War veterans found that 88 percent of the women with CFS reported sexual problems, compared to 32 percent of women without chronic fatigue syndrome. A Spanish study of 27 women with chronic fatigue syndrome found that, as the study subjects’ fatigue grew more intense, they tended to avoid sex, took less pleasure in lovemaking, and were more likely to view sex as a negative experience.

A number of chronic fatigue symptoms contribute to low libido, including:

The psychological effects of CFS also contribute to low libido and sexual dysfunction. People with chronic fatigue often feel depressed, irritable, and anxious. "To the extent that somebody is experiencing these variables, they aren't going to be interested in sex," Fennell explains.

How to Restore Your Sexual Health

Though chronic fatigue syndrome does tend to make sex less appealing, the disease does not have to put an end to your sex life, Fennell says. You’ll just need to work a little bit to keep your sex life healthy and enjoyable.

Patients newly diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome will have the greatest difficulty in this area because they often are too exhausted and troubled to be able to focus on their sexual health or libido at first. "Most patients are not interested in sex during the crisis phase," Fennell says. "They are just trying to hang on and figure out what's going on. We've got to stabilize the situation. Then once they're stabilized, we have to help them carve out their symptoms and their activities."

Try these tips for regaining your desire:

Have a realistic idea of what a healthy sex life entails. "Try to set aside time in any week or two-week period," Fennell suggests. "The average American couple has sex once a week. If someone with a chronic illness can have sex once every two weeks or once every month, they're doing pretty well."

Take it easy on yourself if you have initial difficulty. "You're not failing," Fennell says. "Sex is not a test. It's not mandatory. But it can be enjoyable and, for some people, could help with symptoms."

Set a date night and plan ahead. The person with CFS can prepare by getting some additional rest two or three days prior. Your partner can help by setting the proper mood and helping you relax. "Part of it is looking at how you're staging your time, and around that time say, ‘How do I make that an opportunity to be close and intimate?’ — and maybe sex will come out of that," Fennell offers.

Couples who continue to have difficulty might want to consider cognitive behavioral therapy, which promotes communication and will help them better understand how CFS is interfering with their sex life.

Though chronic fatigue syndrome will make it difficult to pursue a healthy sex life, it’s not impossible, and sex may even prove to be a comfort to those dealing with CFS.